PLEADS NOT GUILTY: Woman allegedly uses, buys drugs with child

January 14, 2013

COLUMBIA CITY â€” A Columbia City woman pleaded not guilty to two felony charges and a misdemeanor charge in Whitley County Superior Court.

Vanessa J. Cramar was arrested Jan. 5 by the Whitley County Sheriffâ€™s Department for neglect of a dependent and maintaining a common nuisance, both Class D felonies; and possession of a synthetic drug, a Class A misdemeanor.

According to the case report, Cramar allegedly was smoking a synthetic drug while in the presence of her daughter. She was arrested and her daughter was given over to Child Protective Services.

Cramar also pleaded not guilty to a separate set of charges, including that she had allegedly purchased drugs in the presence of her daughter.

Another Columbia City woman, Bonnie J. Smith, was arrested as well on Jan. 5 for possession of a synthetic cannabinoid, a Class A misdemeanor and visiting a common nuisance, a Class B misdemeanor. Smith was arrested at the apartment of Cramar for allegedly possessing these drugs at that time. Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges in Superior Court. She is being represented by public defender Brad Baber and will be back in court for pre-trial conference on Feb. 5.

The second set of charges to which Cramar pleaded not guilty included four misdemeanors. According to case reports, Cramar was arrested Dec. 23 for possession of a synthetic cannabinoid, possession of paraphernalia and taking a minor to a nuisance, all Class A misdemeanors; and visiting a common nuisance, a Class B misdemeanor.

The report stated that Cramar allegedly took her daughter to purchase drugs from a gas station parking lot in Fort Wayne and from another location in Warsaw.

Cramar is being represented by public defender Brad Voelz. She will be back in court for pre-trial conferences on Feb. 5.

For a more in-depth look at this story, see the Jan. 14 issue of The Post and Mail. Don't have a subscription? Call (260) 244-5153 or subscribe to our e-edition. For breaking news, sports updates and additional coverage, bookmark the homepage and find us on facebook.